Tennis Instructor (A.K.)

Chapter 18: Glad We Broke Up

Despite being far too comfortable in bed with Owen, Awsten eventually encouraged her to get dressed and pack a bag to stay at his house for the night. She didn't have to grab much, considering she preferred sleeping in Awsten's clothes and she had a toothbrush at his house. He laid in her bed as she packed a few things, furrowing his brows when she grabbed shampoo.

"I have some at my house," he told her, nodding at the large bottle.

"I have to use purple shampoo once in a while," she explained. "It's like super drying but my hair will turn yellow."

"I know, I have purple shampoo babe," he smirked. "You're not the only one who's had a platinum phase."

"And you haven't shown me pics?" Owen dropped her jaw in fake shock, acting as if it was the biggest betrayal ever. Awsten played into his, shrugging with a sorrowful expression.

"Couldn't walk around college as a blue haired freak," Awsten sighed. "That might get me laid here, but not at school."

"You're so dumb," Owen scoffed, dismissing him as she continued getting ready. She was a bit embarrassed to be brushing her teeth for the first time that day, but Awsten didn't seem phased. Owen wasn't the only one who had motivation issues related to depression. When she came back in, he liked that she looked more put together. He loved how she looked when she was messy and exhausted, but he didn't want her to look like that from misery.

Awsten eventually followed her downstairs, deciding it would be best to talk to her parents before they left. Sitting in their daughter's room alone for two hours and then taking her home for yet another sleepover didn't necessarily look the best. The least he could do is let them know what their plans were.

"Heading out so soon?" Owen's mom asked as they walked into the kitchen. It was just her and Owen's dad chatting at the counter, both of them having long days at their offices. She eyed Owen's bag hung over Awsten's shoulder, that being enough of a clue.

"Yeah," Awsten chuckled. "Stealing her away again, sorry Mrs. Woods."

     "Thought she had been home a few nights too many," her dad teased. Owen rolled her eyes, shoving her father's shoulder.

     "Oh shush," her mother scolded. "Please, Awsten, you can call me Chelsea. Liza calls me Mom for God's sake."

     "Don't compare my manners to Liza's," Awsten joked, faking hurt. Owen liked watching him converse with her parents so naturally. It made her less scared of having him around, seeing as he never let there be any awkward moments.  It made her want to get to know his family in return, to be as great to him as he was to her.

      "I always forget how well you know her," Owen's mom commented as her laughter died out. "Since she was young, right?"

     "Yeah, I remember Liza being a baby," he said warmly. "Not super well, because I was in kindergarten, but she's just always been around."

     "You're like a brother to her, then," Mrs. Woods noted with admiration.

      "Yeah, definitely made it easier on me when my sister moved away," he nodded. "When Liza goes to college it's going to tear me up, I can't lie."

     Owen had never realized how close they were. It made sense, considering he had been around even longer than Owen, but he just spoke so rarely about it. Obviously he showed her the occasional old picture, but never sat there reminiscing or diving into his feelings. He spoke brightly of his sister who Owen had yet to meet, but refrained but commenting on Liza.

     "Empty nest syndrome and you don't even have kids yet," Owen's mother said with a face that annoyed Owen. Awsten was not nearly as sweet and wholesome as her mother was making him out to be. "You'll be a great dad."